Extravaganza is the fourth album by the British rock group Stackridge. The album was produced by Tony Ashton at AIR Studios, London. The band experienced a significant lineup change after its previous album, with James Warren, James "Crun" Walter and Billy Sparkle all leaving. The album was originally released in the UK on Elton John's label, The Rocket Record Company. Stackridge was the first group signed to the new label. A different version of the album was released by Sire Records in the U.S and Canada. This version removed two songs already released on Pinafore Days and added "Do The Stanley" from a UK single and "The Indifferent Hedgehog" from the UK album The Man In The Bowler Hat. Singer and songwriter Gordon Haskell rehearsed with Stackridge for a short time during 1974. Though Haskell decided not to join Stackridge the group recorded one of his songs. Originally called "Worms", the version on Extravaganza was re-titled "No One's More Important Than the Earthworm". The song "Happy In The Lord", written by Phil Welton, was a cover of a song originally performed by the band Fat Grapple, and released by them as a single in 1975.

Track listing

Side one

Side two

Track listing: U.S. version, Sire Records SASD-7509

Note that "Bathos", "Smegmaokovitch" and "Wabadaw Sleeve" are entities invented by the band to signify the whole band. Many lyrics were joint efforts.

Deluxe version

Extravaganza was reissued in 2023 by Esoteric Recordings (through Cherry Red Records). The first CD includes the complete original album, the songs credited to Andy Davis, Smegmakovitch unless otherwise specified. The 2nd CD contains eight additional bonus tracks recorded for BBC Radio One “In Concert” in January 1975. Tracks are: CD 1 CD 2

Personnel

Production